interviews with family members on both kathleen savio and stacey peterson sides. >>> the school year has just begun but this date of birth last day of class for thousands of kids and students in chicago. teachers there are threatening to strike amid contract talks and if that happens they won't be at work on monday. nbc's kevin tibbles joins me from chicago. where do things stand, kevin? >> reporter: it's an upsetting time for some 400,000 students here in chicago the third largest school district in the nation. where do things stand? i can report to you with some encouragement that both sides are saying today that some meaningful progress has been made in the talks but, again, it is friday. it's coming down-to-the-wire. and many of the students have been told that they are not showing up at cool on monday. that's obviously going to be a great concern to many parents, many working parents in the chicago area. there have been some contingency plans put in place. some 160 schools will be open on a drop in basis where kids will be served breakfast and lunch and given activities to do. b